Decatur County Schools

.Reminder: Label Your Child’s Winter Gear Over the weekend, please take a moment to write your child’s name on all coats and winter apparel they may wear to school. Items such as jackets, hats, gloves, and scarves often get misplaced throughout the day. Labeling these items will help us quickly identify and return them to their rightful owner. Otherwise, unclaimed items may end up in the lost and found or accidentally taken home by another student. Thank you for helping us keep track of everyone’s belongings and ensuring they stay warm this winter!

K-3 Home Library Opt-Out Template Our school was invited to participate in Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation’s K-3 Home Library program this summer. Through this program, all rising 1st-3rd grade students in our school district are being given the opportunity to receive six high-quality books and activity pages, delivered to their homes this summer at no cost to families. By completing the process below, you are opting your child out of participating in the K-3 Home Library program in Summer 2025. This means your child will not receive six high-quality books and activity pages, delivered to your home this summer. Decatur County School System If you choose NOT to participate, call (731) 852-2391. Please leave your name, your child’s name, and your child’s school. Taking this step will ensure your child will NOT receive the books. In order to opt out, you must call and do so by 4:00 CDT on Friday, January 24, 2025. After that time, we will not be able to remove your child from the recipient list.

ParaProfessional-Teacher Assistant-DCMS The Decatur County School System is seeking applications for a Paraprofessional (Teacher Assistant) position at Decatur County Middle School. - Applicants must be 21 years old and have a high school diploma or GED. Prior to employment, the applicant selected must verify 2 years of college or pass the Parapro Assessment. - Applicants must also successfully pass a TBI Fingerprint Background check as well as a physical by a Licensed Physician. - Applications may be picked up at the Board of Education Office or downloaded from www.decaturcountyschools.com under the Employment tab, Noncertified Application, and sent to Hugh Smith, Human Resources Supervisor, at Decatur County Board of Education, P.O. Box 369, 59 West Main Street, Decaturville, TN 38329 or emailed to: hugh.smith@decaturschools.org. - The deadline for submitting an application is Wednesday, January 22, 2025.

Decatur County Schools: We’re back at it tomorrow! School will resume on a regular schedule on Tuesday, January 14th. We look forward to seeing everyone after a wintery wonderland break! Please note: Decatur County will have school tomorrow using bus driver discretion. Principals will excuse students in areas where buses cannot safely drive.

CLOSING MONDAY, JANUARY 13th Decatur County Schools will be closed on Monday, January 13, 2025, due to potential hazardous conditions. While primary roads are in good condition, lingering snow and the risk of refreezing make secondary roads unsafe for buses and student drivers. “The safety of our students and staff is always our top priority,” said Mr. Chris Villaflor, Director of Schools. Thank you for your understanding as we prioritize safety.

REPORT CARD UPDATE:

Decatur County Schedule Updates: January Board of Education Meeting and School Closure . Due to the potential threat of inclement weather, Decatur County Schools is taking precautionary measures: - The January Board of Education meeting, originally scheduled for Thursday, January 9th, will now occur on Thursday, January 16th. - School will be closed on Friday, January 10th due to the forecasted potential for snow. . Thank you for your understanding as we prioritize the safety of our students, staff, and community. Stay safe and warm!

REMINDER: The Decatur County Board of Education will meet in a regular session on Thursday, January 9, 2025, at the Decatur County Board of Education. Public input begins at 6:00 p.m. and the meeting at 6:15 p.m.

Decatur County Schools Announcement: Decatur County Schools will resume normal operations on Wednesday, January 8, including all regularly scheduled after-school programs. We appreciate your cooperation and look forward to welcoming everyone back.

Decatur County Schools Closure Update: Decatur County Schools have been working diligently to restore heat; however, one of our schools remains without at this time. As a result, all Decatur County Schools will be closed again on Tuesday, January 7. We will provide another update tomorrow regarding the progress and any further school closures. Thank you for your understanding and patience.

Attention Decatur County Schools Community: Schools will be closed on Monday, January 6th. Due to a heating malfunction at one of our schools, several classrooms are without adequate heat. Additionally, with high flu and illness rates in our community, all Decatur County Schools, including afterschool programs, will be closed tomorrow, Monday, January 6th. Please note: All scheduled ballgames will still take place as planned. We will provide an update tomorrow regarding the heating situation. Thank you for your understanding and support. Stay safe and warm!

The Decatur County Board of Education will have a special called work session at 5:30 pm on Monday, January 6th at the Decatur County Board of Education.

January Breakfast & Lunch menus for RHS

January Breakfast & Lunch Menus for DES, PES, & DCMS

Parents/ guardians of all new and returning students at the Decatur County Virtual Academy, please check your emails about our upcoming orientation meeting. If you have any questions, please email me at scott.king@decaturschools.org.

The Decatur County Board of Education wishes all a very Merry Christmas! We hope you take time over the holidays to turn off your electronics, spend quality time with your loved ones, and reflect on the many blessings in your life. Enjoy this special season, make wonderful memories, and come back refreshed and ready for a great new year! Merry Christmas!

🎉 More Great News for Decaturville Elementary! 🎉 We are proud to announce that Decaturville Elementary has been awarded an A on the Tennessee State Report Card! Across the state, 290 schools received an overall A letter grade for the 2023-24 school year! We are proud of these schools for their strong leadership and commitment to student acceleration! 🎉 Along with this incredible achievement, DES has been recognized as a REWARD School and earned a TVAAS Level 5 distinction for the 2023-24 school year – the highest honor for student growth! 👏 Congratulations to Principal Melinda Thompson and the amazing faculty and staff for these prestigious accolades. Your hard work and dedication to our students continue to shine! #DecaturvilleElementary #ExcellenceInEducation #RewardSchool #TVAASLevel5

Deadline is Wednesday, December 18th. Please visit www.decaturcountyschools.com/o/dvs to read our FAQs page and apply using our online application.

SANTA IS COMING... to PES Wed, Dec 11th to the after school program! Please make plans to attend. ❤️ 🎅 ❤️

DCMS STEM Class Never Lets Kids Get “Board”! What’s more fun than playing a board game? Designing your own! Our 7th-grade STEM classes recently wrapped up an exciting multi-week project that combined creativity and technology. Using Makerspace tools, Tinkercad, and Canva, students brought their ideas to life, creating custom game boards, playing pieces, and game cards for their own original board games. The result? Unique and imaginative games—and lots of fun celebrating their hard work! DCMS STEM Class Never Lets Kids Get “Board”! Ms. Jill Farlow is truly an expert of her craft and exhibits a passion for her STEM classes. She is a jewel Decatur County is grateful to have! #STEM #HandsOnLearning #Innovation #DCMS